Dish of the Day #160: Vote for your Favorite

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.

Last week's winner was #155 with 29.3% of the 99 votes cast. #153 came in second with 24.2%, followed by #151 with 17.2%, #152 (15.2%) and #154 (14.1%).

Online Surveys & Market Research

Groovy Books: Band Fags!

Since I love to read, I thought it was about time to feature some of my current and past favorite books here on Deep Dish. So to kick things off, I've selected a recent read of mine--Band Fags! by Frank Anthony Polito, a Brooklyn-based actor and playwright whose first novel is a total delight. It tells the retro tale of an increasingly complicated friendship between two boys, Jack Paterno and Brad Dayton, who are both Band Fags (Jack plays the trumpet and Brad the trombone in their school band). The story follows them from seventh grade until just before their freshman year in college, taking us back in time to 1982-88. The novel has some very serious moments as both young men grow up and fall in and out of love--and lust. Adolescence can be quite confusing and heartbreaking, and Polito makes us care deeply for his characters, whom I easily identified with. However, the author also made me laugh out loud many times with his use of pop culture from the 1970s and '80s, including:

Hunky actor Jon-Erik Hexum--"the male answer to Christie Brinkley"--whose Playgirl exposure gets the boys all hot and bothered.

Singer Rex Smith, whose Sooner or Later film takes Jack's breath away.

The "totally romantic" movie, Somewhere in Time, starring Superman (aka Christopher Reeve) and Jane Seymour, which makes Jack want to stay in The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island someday (where it was filmed).

And comedienne Judy Tenuta, who makes an amusing cameo appearance in the novel.

But my favorite flashback is Jack's crush on actress Kristian Alfonso, who began playing the character of Hope Williams Brady on the daytime soap opera, Days of our Lives, in 1983 (she's still on the show today). Jack follows her every move by taping the soap on his VCR, reading about her in Soap Opera Digest and her official Fan Club newsletter, and compiling his own scrapbook of photos and articles. One of my favorite chapters--with the fitting title of "Obsession"--is all about Jack's chance to actually meet Ms. Alfonso "up close and personal" when she makes a public appearance in Toledo, Ohio (which is 70 miles from his hometown of Hazel Park, Michigan). It turns out to be a day that the boy will never forget.

I highly recommend Band Fags! How can you resist a story with chapters named after such groovy tunes as "We Got The Beat", "You Spin Me Round" and "She Bop"? If you're looking for some fun in the sun this summer, it's a perfect book to read on the beach, and I look forward to Polito's second novel, Drama Queers!, which was just released this week.

Dish of the Day #159

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

The Many Men in Michael Breyette's Life

"My passion is the nude male body, and that is what I choose to draw" - Michael Breyette

According to Michael Breyette's Facebook page, he's just a guy who likes to draw and paint guys and hopefully make the world a little more joyful, hopeful and beautiful along the way. Judging from the favorable response to his work, I think the talented man is reaching his goal.

Never in a million years did Breyette ever dream that he would one day earn his living as an artist and publicly display his pastel paintings of sensual male beauty. But today his work has been published in a book, Summer Moved On, as well as in calendars, magazines, anthologies of erotic art, and on the covers of several novels. And now he's returning to Lyman-Eyer Gallery in Provincetown, MA, where he had a successful solo debut last summer. Breyette's The Breathtaking Blue exhibit, which will feature new originals and prints, runs from July 10 - 22 with an opening night reception on the 10th from 7-9 pm.

So if you're visiting Provincetown in July, be sure to stop by for a closer look at Michael Breyette's amazing work. And for further information, check out his website, www.breyette.com, and his blog, Left in the Dust.

I leave you now with a few words from the handsome artist himself--and, of course, some of his sexy men:

"As much as I may find a sunset, waterfall or glass skyscraper beautiful, I find that same kind of beauty in a shirtless guy. For me, the male body is a true work of art."

Dish of the Day #158

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

The Bachelorette #2: Foot Fetish Me

Last week I mentioned in my first Bachelorette review that David, the 27-year-old trucking contractor from Ohio, didn't do all that much for me and maybe I'd like him better this week. Well, my opinion did change about him. The guy's a scary psycho asshole. I really don't understand why he hates poor Juan so much. Is his own masculinity threatened by Juan's calm, sensitive nature? The creep said more than once that he wanted to tie Juan to a tree and beat him up because he violated the "man code" (what the hell is that?) by not drinking a shot. Unfortunately, Jillian still sees something in David (it didn't help that the Harlem Globetrotters selected him as their man for her because he's apparently a good athlete). But at least she also still likes Juan, who was saved by her from elimination after the rest of the guys voted him as the person they wanted sent home (David came in second). So next week the David/Juan tension will continue to provide us with more drama.

As for Jillian, I like this groovy Capricorn (her birthday is Dec. 30) who calls herself "a quirky little Canadian". She definitely looks good in a hat and red boots and everything else she wears. The girl's got style--and spunk. However, I'm not sure why she kept Tanner P. around--especially after she realized that the weirdo has a foot fetish. Maybe Jillian likes a bit of kink herself. Who knows, but Tanner P. does nothing for me except make my skin crawl.

Out of the four guys that Jillian sent home last night, the only one I was sorry to see go was Matthue, the personal trainer, who was #6 on my list last week. I think she made a mistake in kicking him to the curb instead of David or Tanner P. Brian, the IT consultant who was #10 on last week's list, also got the boot, but I would've said goodbye to him as well after he stripped naked at the cocktail party and jumped in the pool in order to make a lasting impression on Jillian. And he succeeded. She did remember him quite vividly when it came time to hand out her roses. I bet if Brian had kept his dick in his pants, he might've survived another week. What an idiot.

So here are the remaining 16 Bachelors in order of preference (mine, not Jillian's):

1) Jake, 31, Commercial Pilot from Texas (#2 last week): All the other guys should be worried about this incredible hunk, who's also a sweetheart. He got the first individual date with Jillian, and the guy didn't waste any time planting a wet one on her inviting lips. She's obviously into this gorgeous boy, and I predict he will be one of the last two left standing--unless he screws up somehow.

2) Kiptyn, 31, Business Developer from California (#1 last week): He seems like a really nice guy, and Jillian admitted that she just wanted to make out with him. I'm not sure if her physical attraction to the guy will amount to anything more, but I don't blame her one bit for having the hots for him.

3) Jesse, 27, Wine Maker from California (#4 last week): I just like this cutie, and I hope to see him get better acquainted with Jillian next week.

4) Juan, 35, General Contractor from California (#5 last week): He obviously isn't manly enough for the other guys to like--especially David--but I think he's very sweet. Juan is a true gentleman who was the only one to help poor Jillian when she was left hanging from a basketball hoop.

5) Sasha, 27, Oil & Gas Consultant from Tiki Islands, Texas (#3 last week): Despite his hairy feet--according to expert Tanner P. (who seems to enjoy checking out everyone's feet)--I continue to like the guy.

6) Mike, 28, Baseball Camp Owner from New York City (new to list): He made a favorable impression on Jillian by stripping down to his speedo and jumping into the ocean. I guess as long as you keep your family jewels safely hidden away, any other nudity is warmly welcomed.

7) Robby, 25, Bartender from Houston (new to list): The guy knows how to make a cool cocktail (a "Rosmo"), which scores points in my book.

8) Ed, 29, Technology Consultant from Chicago (new to list): He's an attractive Windy City boy. Enough said.

9) Reid, 30, Realtor from Philadelphia (new to list): I like him, but he's much too quiet.

10) Mark, 26, Pizza Entrepreneur from Denver (#8 last week): Another cute, quiet guy who needs to step it up next week in order to make an impression on Jillian.

11) Tanner F., 28, Sales Representative from Denver (#9 last week): Much too quiet. He, Mark and Reid all need to get some one-on-one time with Jillian next week or they might be going home.

12) Wes, 32, Musician from Austin, Texas (#7 last week): This tattooed guitar-strumming songwriter is a very odd duck. I like him better than the bottom 4 bachelors, but there's a dark side to this "dude" (the favorite word of all these heterosexual men). The other guys dislike him because they think he's only there to promote himself and his music, which might be a possibility. But Wes doesn't give a hoot what the rest of them think, and he "isn't going to kiss anyone's ass" (although I wouldn't mind this). Jillian likes semi-bad boys, and Wes definitely fits this bill.

13) Michael, 25, Break Dance Instructor from Astoria, NY (new this week): This guy is so immature and obnoxious. He and Tanner P. were two screaming mimis in a car on their Amazing Race to find Jillian, and he even admitted on camera that he peed a little in his bathing suit. Yuck.

14) Brad, 27, Financial Advisor from Chicago (new this week): He's an annoying drip whom I wish wasn't from my fair city. I was happy when Jillian picked Wes over him to have dinner with.

15) Tanner P., 30, Financial Analyst from Dallas (Bottom Bachelor last week): Foot Fetish guy has got to go.

16) David, 27, Trucking Contractor from Dayton, Ohio (new this week): This monster gives Ohio a bad name. Someone needs to tie him to a tree and let Tanner P. play with his feet. He better not lay a finger on Juan next week. Send him home, Jillian!!!

That's it for this week. I'll be back on Tuesday with a new Bachelorette review.

There's No Tune Like A Show Tune: My Top 200

Having previously posted my Top 100 Groovy Songs of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, I decided to do one last list of the 100 show tunes that I enjoy listening to the most, which was easier said than done. I had to increase the number to 200--due to so many fabulous songs--and even then I was forced to delete many worthy ones. There are some glaring omissions like "Memory" from Cats, but I much prefer to listen to Betty Buckley sing "He Plays The Violin" from 1776. You will also notice many obscure songs from flop shows like "You Don't Have to Do It for Me", which Shelley Winters sang in Minnie's Boys (1970). Give me Shelley as Minnie Marx over Sarah Brightman in The Phantom of the Opera any day of the week. But never fear, Andrew Lloyd Webber fans, I did choose a few of his groovy tunes. So if your favorite song or musical is not included below, I do apologize, but as the saying goes, different strokes for different folks. These are my Top 200 show tunes (in chronological order), and I love singing along to each and every one of them--in the privacy of my own home, of course.

1. I Got Rhythm - Girl Crazy (1930)
2. Anything Goes - Anything Goes (1934)
3. I Get a Kick Out of You - Anything Goes (1934)
4. You're the Top - Anything Goes (1934)
5. Do What You Want to Do - Cabin in the Sky (1940)
6. Taking a Chance on Love - Cabin in the Sky (1940)
7. Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin' - Oklahoma (1943)
8. Oklahoma - Oklahoma! (1943)
9. I Can Cook Too - On The Town (1944)
10. Some Other Time - On The Town (1944)
11. If I Loved You - Carousel (1945)
12. You'll Never Walk Alone - Carousel (1945)
13. There's No Business Like Show Business - Annie Get Your Gun (1946)
14. A Wonderful Guy - South Pacific (1949)
15. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949)
16. Guys and Dolls - Guys and Dolls (1950)
17. If I Were a Bell - Guys and Dolls (1950)
18. Luck Be A Lady - Guys and Dolls (1950)
19. Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat - Guys and Dolls (1950)
20. Shall We Dance? - The King and I (1951)
21. Something Wonderful - The King and I (1951)
22. Summer Afternoon - Wish You Were Here (1952)
23. Ohio - Wonderful Town (1953)
24. A Little Bit in Love - Wonderful Town (1953)
25. Hey There - The Pajama Game (1954)
26. Heart - Damn Yankees (1955)
27. I Could Have Danced All Night - My Fair Lady (1956)
28. On The Street Where You Live - My Fair Lady (1956)
29. Just in Time - Bells Are Ringing (1956)
30. Gee, But It's Good to Be Here - Happy Hunting (1956)
31. America - West Side Story (1957)
32. Something's Coming - West Side Story (1957)
33. Seventy-Six Trombones - The Music Man (1957)
34. Ya Got Trouble - The Music Man (1957)
35. I Enjoy Being A Girl - Flower Drum Song (1958)
36. Everything's Coming Up Roses - Gypsy (1959)
37. Some People - Gypsy (1959)
38. Rose's Turn - Gypsy (1959)
39. Do-Re-Mi - The Sound of Music (1959)
40. My Favorite Things - The Sound of Music (1959)
41. Little Tin Box - Fiorello! (1959)
42. Are You Ready, Gyp Watson? - Destry Rides Again (1959)
43. Shy - Once Upon A Mattress (1959)
44. How the Money Changes Hands - Tenderloin (1960)
45. A Lot of Livin' To Do - Bye Bye Birdie (1960)
46. Put on a Happy Face - Bye Bye Birdie (1960)
47. Fireworks - Do Re Mi (1960)
48. Make Someone Happy - Do Re Mi (1960)
49. Hey, Look Me Over! - Wildcat (1960)
50. Brotherhood of Man - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961)
51. I Believe in You - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961)
52. Comes Once in a Lifetime - Subways Are For Sleeping (1961)
53. Comedy Tonight - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum (1962)
54. Lovely - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to The Forum (1962)
55. Loads of Love - No Strings (1962)
56. Here's to Us - Little Me (1962)
57. I've Got Your Number - Little Me (1962)




58. The Other Side of the Tracks - Little Me (1962)
59. She Loves Me - She Loves Me (1963)
60. Ice Cream - She Loves Me (1963)
61. Before the Parade Passes By - Hello, Dolly! (1964)
62. Hello, Dolly! - Hello, Dolly! (1964)
63. It Only Takes a Moment - Hello, Dolly! (1964)
64. Put On Your Sunday Clothes - Hello, Dolly! (1964)
65. This Is The Life - Golden Boy (1964)
66. Anyone Can Whistle - Anyone Can Whistle (1964)
67. Don't Rain on My Parade - Funny Girl (1964)
68. Call Me Savage - Fade Out-Fade In (1964)
69. Home Sweet Heaven - High Spirits (1964)
70. I Had a Ball - I Had a Ball (1964)
71. On A Wonderful Day Like Today - The Roar of The Greasepaint-The Smell of The Crowd (1965)
72. A Quiet Thing - Flora, The Red Menace (1965)
73. Sing Happy - Flora, The Red Menace (1965)
74. Do I Hear a Waltz? - Do I Hear A Waltz? (1965)
75. Hurry! It's Lovely Up Here! - On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965)
76. Wait Till We're Sixty-Five - On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965)
77. What Did I Have That I Don't Have? - On A Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965)
78. If He Walked into My Life - Mame (1966)
79. It's Today - Mame (1966)
80. Mame - Mame (1966)
81. Bosom Buddies - Mame (1966)
82. Baby, Dream Your Dream - Sweet Charity (1966)
83. Big Spender - Sweet Charity (1966)
84. If My Friends Could See Me Now - Sweet Charity (1966)
85. The Rhythm of Life - Sweet Charity (1966)
86. There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This - Sweet Charity (1966)
87. Cabaret - Cabaret (1966)
88. You've Got Possibilities - It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's Superman (1966)
89. Walking Happy - Walking Happy (1966)
90. Gorgeous - The Apple Tree (1966)
91. Talking to Yourself - Hallelujah, Baby! (1967)
92. Step to the Rear - How Now, Dow Jones (1967)
93. Aquarius - Hair (1968)
94. Easy To Be Hard - Hair (1968)
95. Good Morning Starshine - Hair (1968)
96. Let the Sun Shine In - Hair (1968)
97. I'll Never Fall in Love Again - Promises, Promises (1968)
98. Knowing When To Leave - Promises, Promises (1968)
99. Promises, Promises - Promises, Promises (1968)
100. Turkey Lurkey Time - Promises, Promises (1968)
101. Tomorrow Morning - The Happy Time (1968)
102. Golden Rainbow - Golden Rainbow (1968)
103. He Plays The Violin - 1776 (1969)
104. I Only Wanna Laugh - Jimmy (1969)
105. I Got Love - Purlie (1970)
106. You Don't Have to Do It for Me - Minnie's Boys (1970)
107. Applause - Applause (1970)
108. But Alive - Applause (1970)
109. Another Hundred People - Company (1970)
110. Being Alive - Company (1970)
111. The Ladies Who Lunch - Company (1970)
112. Getting Married Today - Company (1970)
113. Broadway Baby - Follies (1971)
114. Losing My Mind - Follies (1971)
115. I'm Still Here - Follies (1971)
116. Day By Day - Godspell (1971)
117. God's Garden - Prettybelle (1971)
118. The Babylove Miracle Show - The Grass Harp (1971)
119. There Are Worse Things I Could Do - Grease (1972)
120. Sun On My Face - Sugar (1972)
121. It's Not Where You Start - Seesaw (1973)
122. Nobody Does It Like Me - Seesaw (1973)
123. Poor Everybody Else - Seesaw (1973)
124. A Weekend in the Country - A Little Night Music (1973)
125. Tap Your Troubles Away - Mack & Mabel (1974)
126. Time Heals Everything - Mack & Mabel (1974)
127. Wherever He Ain't - Mack & Mabel (1974)
128. Ease on Down the Road - The Wiz (1975)
129. One - A Chorus Line (1975)
130. All That Jazz - Chicago (1975)
131. Razzle Dazzle - Chicago (1975)
132. Nowadays - Chicago (1975)
133. Any Dream Will Do - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1976)
134. Someone in a Tree - Pacific Overtures (1976)
135. Meadowlark - The Baker's Wife (1976)
136. Any-Day-Now Day - The Baker's Wife (1976)
137. Endless Delights - The Baker's Wife (1976)
138. Easy Street - Annie (1977)
139. N.Y.C. - Annie (1977)
140. Hey There, Good Times - I Love My Wife (1977)
141. Someone Wonderful I Missed - I Love My Wife (1977)
142. Don't Cry For Me Argentina - Evita (1979)
143. And The Money Kept Rolling In (And Out) - Evita (1979)
144. Buenos Aires - Evita (1979)
145. I Belong Here - The Grand Tour (1979)
146. We're Almost There - The Grand Tour (1979)
147. Pretty Women - Sweeney Todd (1979)
148. One Brick at a Time - Barnum (1980)
149. And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going - Dreamgirls (1981)
150. Dreamgirls - Dreamgirls (1981)
151. The Grass Is Always Greener - Woman of the Year (1981)
152. One of the Boys - Woman of the Year (1981)
153. Old Friends - Merrily We Roll Along (1981)
154. Skid Row (Downtown) - Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
155. Suddenly, Seymour - Little Shop of Horrors (1982)
156. Unusual Way - Nine (1982)
157. I Want It All - Baby (1983)
158. Two People in Love - Baby (1983)
159. The Best of Times - La Cage Aux Folles (1983)
160. I Am What I Am - La Cage Aux Folles (1983)
161. No Man Is Worth It - Dance A Little Closer (1983)
162. Colored Lights - The Rink (1984)
163. The Apple Doesn't Fall - The Rink (1984)
164. Putting It Together - Sunday in the Park with George (1984)
165. Unexpected Song - Song and Dance (1985)
166. Nobody's Side - Chess (1986)
167. I Know Him So Well - Chess (1986)
168. I Dreamed A Dream - Les Miserables (1987)
169. On My Own - Les Miserables (1987)
170. Children Will Listen - Into The Woods (1987)
171. You Can Always Count on Me - City of Angels (1989)
172. We'll Take A Glass Together - Grand Hotel (1989)
173. Miss Byrd - Closer Than Ever (1989)
174. Holding to the Ground - Falsettoland (1990)
175. The American Dream - Miss Saigon (1991)
176. The Last Night of the World - Miss Saigon (1991)
177. Everybody Wants to Do a Musical - Nick & Nora (1991)
178. Where You Are - Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992)
179. Kiss of the Spider Woman - Kiss of the Spider Woman (1992)
180. With One Look - Sunset Boulevard (1993)
181. Seasons of Love - Rent (1996)
182. Who Will Love Me as I Am? - Side Show (1997)
183. I Will Never Leave You - Side Show (1997)
184. My Body - The Life (1997)
185. The Oldest Profession - The Life (1997)
186. Someone Like You - Jekyll & Hyde (1997)
187. Wig in a Box - Hedwig and the Angry Inch (1998)
188. Heart and Music - A New Brain (1998)
189. And They're Off - A New Brain (1998)
190. Back to Before - Ragtime (1998)
191. New Music - Ragtime (1998)
192. Another Night at Darryl's - The Witches of Eastwick (2000)
193. Welcome to the 60's - Hairspray (2002)
194. Without Love - Hairspray (2002)



195. At the Fountain - Sweet Smell of Success (2002)
196. Don't Know Where You Leave Off - Sweet Smell of Success (2002)
197. I Cannot Hear the City - Sweet Smell of Success (2002)
198. Pie in the Sky - Taboo (2002)
199. Here I Am - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005)



200. The Bitch Of Living - Spring Awakening (2006)

If It's Tuesday, This Must Be That Girl

Every Tuesday I post five questions relating to television or film, and the first person who sends me the correct answers wins the highly coveted Auntie Mame Award (for excellence in trivia).

Last week's lucky winner was Jerry Boyle, and he answered the following questions about the film, Valley of the Dolls, correctly:

1) Who does Tony Polar marry? And what's the name of his sister? Jennifer, Miriam

2) Who was originally cast as Helen Lawson? Judy Garland

3) What uncredited Academy Award-winning actor--in his film debut--plays the role of an assistant stage manager? Richard Dreyfuss

4) Fill in the blank: "You've got to _________ to reach the Valley of the Dolls." Climb Mount Everest

5) What does Neely always have to do after she gets up at five o'clock in the morning? Sparkle!

Please send your answers for this week's questions to deepdishdrama@aol.com or via a private Facebook message (DO NOT post your answers on here where everyone can see them or they will be deleted). This week's theme is the 1966-71 sitcom, That Girl:

1) What does Ann Marie's father, Lou, do for a living?

2) What comedian played Ann's agent, George Lester?

3) Who played Ann's friend, Margie "Pete" Peterson? And what comedy-variety show did she later star on?

4) In a September 1967 episode, Ann gets a walk-on part in the revival of what musical? And what Broadway legend does she get to work with?

5) Fill in the blank: "Diamonds, Daisies, ___________, That Girl."

Extra Credit: True or False - In the final episode of That Girl, Ann marries her boyfriend, Donald.

Dish of the Day #157

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Dish of the Day #156

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Fall TV Preview: Melrose Place, Vampires & Witches

With all of the major TV networks having revealed their 2009-10 schedules this week, I've compiled a list of what I will be watching this fall (all times are Central Standard):

Monday

I rarely watch television on Monday nights, except for the occasional glimpse into the lives of Blair and Serena on the CW's Gossip Girl (7-8 PM) and, of course, my favorite guilty pleasure, The Bachelorette. Also, if Dancing with the Stars (7-9 PM on ABC) books some groovy celebrity like Betty White or Ruth Buzzi, I might have to tune in like I did for Cloris Leachman last fall. In other TV news, ABC's Castle (9-10 PM) got renewed for a second season for those of you who might be interested, and CBS has a new sitcom, Accidentally on Purpose (7:30-8 PM), starring Jenna Elfman as a single woman who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a much younger guy.

Tuesday

Melrose Place (8-9 PM on CW): Once I heard that Sydney and Michael were returning to their old stomping grounds, I knew I was going to be sucked back in. Hopefully the new Melrose will be a lot better than the new 90210. Sydney (Laura Leighton), who is somehow still alive, is now the landlady of the apartment complex. She's also sleeping with young David Breck, whose estranged father is Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro). SPOILER ALERT: Unfortunately, Sydney will apparently drown in the courtyard pool in the first episode, but she'll continue to appear in flashback scenes throughout the season. Almost all the other characters will be suspects in her murder (sounds like The L Word's final season). Now I love a good murder mystery--and a trashy soap--so I'll be tuning in, but I am disappointed that Ms. Leighton has been killed off from Melrose once again (apparently Heather Locklear's Amanda was supposed to be the murder victim, but the actress nixed such an enticing offer).





Again, if Dancing with the Stars (8-9 PM on ABC) features someone great, I might want to watch the show--but I doubt it will be enough to keep me away from Melrose. In other TV news, CBS has a new Julianna Margulies drama (9-10 PM), The Good Wife, which also stars the fabulous Christine Baranski, but it sounds like just another typical lawyer show (I'd rather see Baranski back on Broadway in a musical or comedy). Also, Scrubs (8-8:30 PM) and Better Off Ted (8:30-9 PM) will be returning to ABC's schedule in early 2010 after Dancing ends.

Wednesday

The Middle (7:30-8 PM on ABC): I'm not a fan of actress Patricia Heaton, whose Republican politics have always bothered me (she supported McCain/Palin, but apparently she supports gay rights). I also never got into Everybody Loves Raymond, but her new show about a family in Indiana has a Roseanne feeling to it. And I think TV needs another Roseanne, and Heaton is a funny actress. The clip below has its moments, so I'll give the series a try.



Modern Family (8-8:30 PM on ABC): This mockumentary sitcom looks like it could be good. It's about three different families--one traditional, one gay, one multiethnic--who all live in the same suburb.



Cougar Town (8:30-9 PM on ABC): Courteney Cox is a recently divorced single mother in this amusing sitcom that also stars a cute Josh Hopkins (Swingtown) and some other cute young guy.




Glee (8-9 PM on FOX): I LOVE Glee! I'll probably watch this and tape ABC's sitcoms.

Eastwick (9-10 PM on ABC): I'm looking forward to seeing this drama based on the 1987 film and John Updike's novel, The Witches of Eastwick. The wonderful Paul Gross (Slings & Arrows) will be playing Darryl Van Horne, and the cast also includes Ugly Betty's Rebecca Romijn, Lindsay Price, Sara Rue and Veronica Cartwright (who appeared in the movie).



In other TV news, NBC has Parenthood (7-8 PM), which has an interesting cast--Peter Krause, Maura Tierney, Bonnie Bedelia--but it seems a bit too sappy and sugary sweet (I prefer my family dramas to be more dysfunctionally dark like Six Feet Under). The CW also has a new drama, The Beautiful Life (8-9 PM), about high-fashion models. It stars Elle Macpherson and The O.C.'s Mischa Barton. Considering I already have three shows booked during this time period, I think I'll have to pass on this one. And, of course, ABC's Lost will be returning in 2010 for its final season.

Thursday

The Vampire Diaries (7-8 PM on CW): Two vampire brothers--one good, one evil--are at war for a young girl's soul and for the souls of all the residents of the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. The sexy Ian Somerhalder (Lost) plays the bad brother. The clips look intriguing enough to watch an entire episode.





Parks & Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock (7:30-9 PM on NBC): I love Amy Poehler, and I'm glad NBC is giving her sitcom a second season. It's not a perfect show, but she's very entertaining. And I'm still enjoying The Office gang as well as the fabulous Tina Fey and company.

Friday

Ugly Betty (8-9 PM on ABC): Poor Betty has been bumped to Fridays after a very rocky third season. I didn't watch the show's final episodes this year, but I'm willing to give it one more chance in the fall--especially since there's nothing else on Friday night that I care to tune in to. The show is up against CBS's Medium (which used to be on NBC) and NBC's Southland. I'm not sure how Betty will fare in the ratings, but my gut feeling is that this will probably be her final season.

Saturday

Oh please, there hasn't been anything worth watching on this night since The Golden Girls went off the air.

Sunday

Desperate Housewives. Brothers & Sisters. Of course.

Midseason TV

Besides the anxiously anticipated return of Lost, ABC has two midseason series that I'm planning to check out:

Happy Town: It's reminiscent of Twin Peaks, one of my favorite shows of yesteryear.



V: I'm not a huge sci-fi fan, but I did enjoy ABC's Invasion a few seasons ago. Hopefully the network will have more faith in this show, which is a remake of the 1980s miniseries. It has a good cast, including Lost's Elizabeth Mitchell and Party of Five's Scott Wolf.



NBC's terrific Friday Night Lights won't be returning until the summer of 2010 (I guess that's better than not at all). Also, I've never watched NBC's Chuck, but it will be returning as well sometime in 2010.

Potential pilots that failed to make the cut include the American remake of Ab Fab, Legally Mad (a law firm drama from David E. Kelley featuring Kristin Chenoweth), Lily (the Gossip Girl spinoff), A Marriage (from the creators of thirtysomething), Happiness Isn't Everything (the Jason Biggs/Richard Dreyfuss sitcom), The Eastmans (a medical drama starring Donald Sutherland and Jacqueline Bisset), Big D (a sitcom starring Chicago's very own Deanne Dunagan as a Southern mother), Limelight (a soapy Fame drama about a New York performing arts college), Empire State (a drama about two families clashing over their children's romance), and The Bridget Show (Lauren Graham's sitcom). The Shonda Rhimes-produced Inside the Box, a drama about a D.C. network news bureau, might be redeveloped for ABC.

ABC once again has the most interesting new shows next season, but I am very curious about the new Melrose Place. And I can't wait for more Glee. Of course I'll be offering my own personal reviews of all the shows on my list, so be sure to keep an eye out for them Come September, which is a 1961 film starring Rock Hudson, Gina Lollobrigida, Sandra Dee and Bobby Darin. I know it has nothing whatsoever to do with this post, but it's a nice way to end it, don't you agree?

Gaga Over 'Glee': More Please!

"There's nothing ironic about show choir!" - Rachel Berry

I love Glee, the new one-hour musical comedy series on FOX that had a promising premiere on Wednesday. The pilot episode was watched by 10.7 million, making it the second highest-rated debut of a show on any network this season. Many folks are also obviously loving its music since the cast's version of Journey's 1981 hit, "Don't Stop Believin'", is currently #1 on iTunes Top Songs chart--above American Idol's Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. The Glee cast's version of Amy Winehouse's "Rehab" is also on iTunes at #50, and a soundtrack is set to be released this fall when the series returns. And that's the bad news. FOX isn't giving us another episode until next season when Glee will air on Wednesdays at 8 pm (CST). Hopefully this week's sneak peak will be enough to wet people's appetite to want more of the show. It was for me. I'm now a fan, who can't wait to have seconds.

SPOILER ALERT (for those of you who haven't watched the first episode yet): Glee is centered around Will Schuester (the cute and hairy-chested Matthew Morrison, who was great as Link Larkin in the original Broadway production of Hairspray), an optimistic Spanish high school teacher who takes over the glee club with the help of his fellow teacher, clean freak Emma Pillsbury (Ugly Betty's Jayma Mays), who obviously likes the married man. He's got a nagging wife, Terri (Nip/Tuck's Jessalyn Gilsig), who wants him to give up teaching to become an accountant--and make more money for her to spend. Will briefly considers this after she announces she's pregnant, but he's unable to resist reliving his own former glee club glory and keeps his teaching job. The club is composed of gay Kurt (Chris Colfer), stuttering Goth Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), wheelchair-bound Arty (Kevin McHale), sassy Beyoncé wannabe Mercedes (Amber Riley), star quarterback Finn (Cory Monteith), and last but certainly not least, Rachel Berry (Spring Awakening's Lea Michele), an ambitious girl with two gay dads who knows she is the most talented one of the group.

Morrison is an attractive leading man, and he and Mays have a sweet chemistry together that I'm sure will be explored further next fall--especially once he learns that his wife is having a hysterical pregnancy as revealed in the previews. I'm always a sucker for a good love triangle. And the fabulous Jane Lynch (Best in Show), who plays "Cheerios" (cheerleading) coach Sue Sylvester, steals every scene that she's in with her deliciously snarky attitude. But the "Shining Star" (and I loved that this groovy Earth, Wind & Fire tune was played during the pilot) of the show is Ms. Michele, who is not only pretty with a great set of Patti LuPone pipes, but she's also a first-rate comedienne. The entire cast is terrific, but Michele definitely stands out.

I also liked guest star Stephen Tobolowsky as the former glee club advisor, who was fired after Rachel reported his inappropriate touching of a male student. With a long-distance girlfriend in Cleveland (a funny line), the man happily became a profitable drug dealer. And the use of music in the pilot was just wonderful--especially Kurt's audition song of "Mister Cellophane", Rachel's "On My Own", and a young Finn and his mother's boyfriend singing along to Journey's "Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin'". I only had one minor quibble with the first episode--why did creator Ryan Murphy use a dated MySpace reference instead of YouTube or Facebook?

I look forward to seeing more of Will, Coach Sue and the rest of the Glee gang when the series returns next fall, and its delightful first episode receives an excellent grade of A from me. Below you can watch the "Don't Stop Believin'" scene.

The Bachelorette #1: A Guilty Pleasure

Give me 25 hunky guys competing for the affections of one lucky lady and I'm so there. The Bachelorette is my guilty pleasure--and one of the few "reality" shows that I enjoy watching. I'm not a fan of The Bachelor with 25 women and only one guy, but switch those numbers around and I'm quite happy to tune in every week to root for my favorite stud muffin. So now that the fifth season of The Bachelorette has begun, I'll be blogging about the show every week. Hopefully there are a few other fans out there who might enjoy my random musings about the series.

I didn't watch the most recent Bachelor, Jason Mesnick, dump the cute Canadian interior designer, Jillian Harris, but I think she makes a terrific Bachelorette. As one of her potential love interests called her on Monday's two-hour season opener, the young lady is a "sassy little minx" who speaks her mind, looks great in white and drives a cool purple convertible. I like her. And hopefully she won't pick the wrong guy as her predecessor, DeAnna, did last year (I'm still confused by her selection of the silly snowboarder over the hot Jason).

As for Jillian's group of 25 hunks, this time it's been upped to 30 men just for the fun of it. Hey, five more guys to choose from--I certainly wouldn't mind. So Ms. Harris had to send home 10 boys on Monday, and for the most part she did very well in her selections. The only guy that I kind of liked that she didn't end up choosing was Caleb, the cute photographer from Nashville, who never made much of an impression beyond his initial appearance. Maybe he was just too shy for television--or smart. And, fortunately, Jillian didn't keep Greg, the professional fitness model, around. At first I thought he was kind of attractive--nice body--but then he kept opening his mouth and speaking. Calling himself "a perfect 10" and telling Jillian to "hug it out" with him reminded me of actor Jeremy Piven, whom I'd rather not be reminded of (I'm not a big fan of his). Greg just seemed a little too self-centered for my taste--and obviously our Bachelorette must have got the same vibe.

So here are my Top Ten Bachelors for this week:

1) Kiptyn, 31, Business Developer from California (see first photo above): He was the first one out of the car to meet Jillian, and he made a great first impression on me. The man's got a killer bod, a sweet smile, a nice laugh, and an interesting name. As for his personality, who knows--it's only the first week.

2) Jake, 31, Commercial Pilot from Texas (see second photo): Yummy with a nice strong jawline--and he gave her a set of wings as a gift. Sweet guy.

3) Sasha, 27, Oil & Gas Consultant from Tiki Islands, Texas: Anyone from a groovy place called "Tiki Islands" scores a few points from me. He's a handsome boy who loves his family. Definitely a keeper for the time being.

4) Jesse, 27, Wine Maker from California: Cute and he makes wine. An irresistible combination in my book. And he's got a sense of humor by wearing an "Aspiring Canadian" T-shirt.

5) Juan, 35, General Contractor from California: His hometown is Buenos Aires, and he's quite easy on the eyes. However, his close relationship with his mother could be a plus or a minus.

6) Matthue, 26, Personal Trainer from Wichita: I liked his white cowboy hat--and he's attractive.

7) Wes, 32, Musician from Austin, Texas: This tattooed guitar-strumming songwriter lives in a cool city--and he's got a nice smile. And I find him kind of sexy--and unique when compared to his competition.

8) Mark, 26, Pizza Entrepreneur from Denver: I liked him. Good first impression.

9) Tanner F., 28, Sales Representative from Denver: Cute. I wonder if he and Mark know each other.

10) Brian, 32, IT Consultant from Atlanta: A nice Southern boy.

And here is my Bottom Bachelor for the week (whom I'm hoping will be sent home next time):

Tanner P., 30, Financial Analyst from Dallas: I don't mind someone having a sexual fetish--we all have our personal preferences when it comes to the human anatomy--but you don't go on national television and confess on camera to liking big feet. That's not making a good first impression. That's weird and creepy--especially as we watched him almost drool over Jillian's bare feet. Unfortunately, the poor girl kind of likes him. He's cute enough, but I think she'll send him packing if he continues to blab about his passion for high arches.

As for the rest of the guys, Michael, the 25-year-old break dance instructor, would probably be #11 on my list. I need to get to know him a little better. I also kind of liked Robby, the bartender from Houston (quite a lot of Texas boys on the show, aren't there?). And David, the 27-year-old trucking contractor from Ohio, didn't do all that much for me. His nervousness and the awkward silence during his first meeting with Jillian made me uncomfortable, but I guess she saw something I didn't since she gave him her first impression rose. Maybe I'll like him better next week.

The previews for future episodes looked interesting as at least one guy is revealed to already have a girlfriend. And another one might only be on the show in order to become the next Bachelor. Of course, Jillian will be shedding a few tears. They always do. I think it's required in their contracts to cry occasionally.

That's it for this week. I'll be back on Tuesday with a new Bachelorette review.

Dish of the Day #155: Vote for your Favorite

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning today you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week in the sidebar poll.



Last week's big winner was #148 with 36.4% of the 118 votes cast. #147 came in second with 27.1%, and #146 and #150 tied for third with 14.4%. #149 was last with 7.6%.

Online Surveys & Market Research

Season Finale: Desperate Housewives

And so another season of ABC's Desperate Housewives has come to an end. It was a fairly smooth and entertaining fifth year for the show.

Back in September, I reviewed the Housewives season debut, giving them a high grade of A (I loved the five-year flash forward and new characters Jackson and Dave). And then in early February, the series received a mid-season report card grade of B+ (this was before creator Mark Cherry decided to kill off poor Edie apparently for financial reasons, which I think was a very bad decision). Now this brings us to last Sunday's finale, which had its good and bad points.

The Dave Williams saga finally came to an end, and I for one was ready for it to be over. Once his wife, Edie, bit the dust, I became rather bored with the guy and his secret revenge on Susan for accidentally causing the death of his wife and daughter during the five-year jump. The finale to the story was filled with lots of tension and drama, but I'm glad Dave is now locked up in a rubber room (and hopefully he won't be returning to Wisteria Lane anytime soon). However, it was nice to see Lily Tomlin's Roberta again, but I'm not sure about this rumored spinoff featuring her and her sister, Karen McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten). I like both actresses and they have great chemistry together, but I just don't know. Then again maybe it's time for another Golden Girls sitcom.

Meanwhile, the delightful Gaby--who always makes me laugh out loud--has had a great season. I've enjoyed watching her go from frumpy mother to sexy siren again, and her snarky banter with her eldest daughter is a continual hoot. The woman will never win any Mother of the Year awards, but she's the funniest character on the show. Unfortunately, Gaby and Carlos were stuck with a deadly dull storyline in the finale that centered around his teenage niece, Ana, suddenly coming to live with them. I'm not sure yet what her purpose is--will she be hooking up with one or more of Lynette's twins in the fall? It's not a very interesting story for Gaby, so hopefully she'll get something exciting to do next season. The rumored return of Jesse Metcalfe as her former boy-toy gardener would be a great addition--especially if Gaby and Ana end up competing for his affections. Just an idea.

As for Lynette and her husband, Tom, I liked the storyline involving their son, Porter, and his affair with the married lady. But their financial problems have been a real boring drag. If I wanted reality, I'd watch a reality show. And I haven't made up my mind yet about Lynette's unexpected pregnancy. At least she doesn't have cancer again (I was quite relieved about this).

The best plot twist of the finale was Bree's new romance with Susan's ex, Karl. I think actor Richard Burgi's sexy bad boy character is perfect for Bree, who needs some good lovin' in her life. She will continue to cheat on her husband, Orson, with the hunky lawyer next season. I'm so tired of Orson, whom I'm hoping will go completely crazy and end up sharing a room with Dave at the funny farm.

Then there's the Susan/Mike/Katherine love triangle, which was the big cliffhanger of the finale. Mike admitted to Susan that he still loved her, and they shared a passionate kiss after all the drama with Dave. And in the final scene he was in a church kissing his bride, whose face we never saw. Which woman did he marry? Since we do know that he was wondering if he was doing the right thing by marrying this person, I'm leaning towards Katherine as the lucky lady. And will Jackson (Gale Harold) return next season? I'm kind of hoping that he does. I like him and Susan together. So we'll have to wait and see. I give Desperate Housewives a B as its final overall season grade (less a + due to Edie's unfortunate death), and I look forward to a brand new mystery in the fall. And let's see some more of Bob and Lee and Andrew and his fiancé, Dr. Alex. Desperate can never be too gay for me.

Groovy Gal: Molly Dodd

I loved The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, a half-hour "dramedy" that debuted on NBC on May 21, 1987 (22 years ago today) as a summer replacement series. The series' initial 13-episode run was critically acclaimed, but the network never fully appreciated what a fabulous show it was and canceled it after only two brief seasons. Fortunately, the Lifetime cable network came to the rescue, re-airing Molly's original 26 episodes as well as producing three more 13-episode seasons from 1989 to 1991.

The lovely and talented actress Blair Brown played Molly, a divorced woman in her mid-30s living in New York City and dealing with a complicated love life, an ever-changing career, and her meddling mother, Florence (the wonderful Allyn Ann McLerie). The series had a terrific supporting cast, including:

William Converse-Roberts as Fred Dodd, Molly's ex-husband who was a jazz saxophone player

James Greene as Davey, the elevator operator who had many fascinating conversations with Molly

Victor Garber as Dennis, Molly's former boss and ex-lover who continued to pop up throughout the run of the series

David Strathairn as Moss Goodman, the sweet bookseller who became romantically involved with Molly

Jay Tarses (the creator of the show) as Nick, Molly's garbageman who made frequent appearances

Richard Lawson as Det. Nathaniel Hawthorne, a policeman whom Molly dated

It's unfortunate that Blair Brown never won an Emmy Award for her great performance as Molly (she was nominated five times). And I'm even more unhappy that the show isn't available on DVD, so everyone can see how brilliant Brown was in the role. Hopefully one of these days someone will remember our Miss Dodd and give her the DVD release that she deserves.

Wish You Were 'Hair' (and other theatrical experiences)

So here are the shows that I saw on my recent trip to New York City in order from fabulous to Godawful:

Everyday Rapture: Everyone needs to go see this thoroughly delightful musical autobiography starring the incredibly talented Sherie Rene Scott. In 85 minutes the actress tells us a hysterically funny and often quite moving story of her journey from a Kansas Mennonite childhood to the Broadway stage. With the help of her two backup singers, the Mennonettes (the talented Lindsay Mendez and Betsy Wolfe), Scott discusses the two Freds in her past (a pastor and TV's Mister Rogers), a unique Judy Garland/Jesus tale, and a personal account of her online correspondence with a young YouTube fan. Actor Eamon Foley almost steals the show away from its star during one segment--but only almost. Sherie Rene Scott deserves to win a Tony for her performance--if only she and her wonderful show could be nominated (it's at the off-Broadway Second Stage Theatre). She's that good, trust me. If I lived in New York, I would go back and see her in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, Everyday Rapture has only been extended to June 13, so click here for a Playbill discount offer. It was mine and my partner's favorite show of our trip, and it gets a groovy grade of an A+ from me.



Blithe Spirit: This entertaining Noel Coward play debuted way back in 1941, but it's just as much fun to watch today. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a talented cast performing it, and this revival (which should've been nominated for a Tony for Best Revival of a Play) boasts an amazing one, including Rupert Everett (making an impressive Broadway debut), Christine Ebersole (whose character of Elvira occasionally sounds a bit like her Little Edie from Grey Gardens--and that's not a criticism as the actress is a total delight in her role), Jayne Atkinson (her Ruth is the glue that holds the play together, and it's a shame that the Tonys ignored her wonderful performance), and the legendary Angela Lansbury, who steals every scene that she's in as the wacky Madame Arcati. Just to watch this 83-year-old actress do a bizarre dance across the stage is worth the price of admission (hopefully she'll receive another Tony on June 7). Funny script, perfect cast, gorgeous costumes and set--what more can one ask for in a play? They don't write comedies like this anymore (continue reading below for proof of this). Blithe Spirit receives an A+ from me.




Hair: You can't hate Hair. It's impossible to dislike a show that is so joyous in its celebration of being young and alive back in that groovy yesteryear of 1967. I've always loved the music of Hair, and I enjoyed a Chicago production many years ago. But I went to New York with a "been there, done that" attitude about this latest revival of the show, which has received rave reviews. I had no strong desire to see it. However, even the best laid plans sometime go awry--but not always in a bad way. Having already seen one lousy show on my trip (see below), I decided that my last theatrical experience in NYC needed to be a good one. And since it was a Sunday night, there weren't a whole lot of choices available. The new musicals, Rock of Ages and Next to Normal, were both at one time on my list of shows to see, but I had reservations about both of them. I just couldn't risk seeing another show that I might hate, which would've been too depressing. So I made the "safe" choice of going to Hair--and LOVED it! The entire cast is full of energy and enthusiasm that's highly addictive, but I must single out a few key players: Allison Case as Crissy (whose "Frank Mills" is so sweet), Andrew Kober as Margaret Mead (his drag persona temporarily steals the show with "her" amusing number, "My Conviction"), Bryce Ryness as the gay Woof (who makes a nice Scarlett O'Hara in one scene), Sasha Allen as Dionne (whose "Aquarius" gave me goosebumps at the beginning of the show), Caissie Levy as Sheila (whose "Easy to Be Hard" was the best I've ever heard--although the excellent band deserves some of the credit--and her "Good Morning Starshine" is a highlight of Act 2), and finally the amazing Gavin Creel as Claude, who--despite it being an ensemble cast--is the star of the show. This young actor shines brightly throughout--especially in his "I Got Life" and "Where Do I Go" numbers. Hair is not a perfect musical--Claude's drug trip hallucinations in Act 2 go on far too long and the songs that appear in these scenes are the weakest of the score in my opinion. But this is a temporary bump in the road that is totally forgotten by the end of the show, which has one of the most beautifully sad and moving final scenes of any musical (I don't remember feeling this way when I saw Hair years ago). And then there's the curtain calls, which quickly turn into a love-in between the actors and the audience. Everyone is invited to join the hippie wonderland on stage as "Let the Sun Shine In" continues on and on. I didn't want to leave the theater, and if I'd been sitting on the main floor instead of up in the balcony, I just might've danced around and had my photo taken with Sheila and Claude as many others did. I'll readily admit that I'm not a big fan of audience participation, but the revival of Hair will make you lose your inhibitions and let your hair down. You'll never feel threatened. Instead you'll feel loved as the cast asks you to come play with them. Hair gets an A from me.





9 to 5: My partner called this show "hyper", which it definitely is from beginning to end. There aren't many moments where the energetic cast isn't doing some sort of choreography, which gets old real fast. However, if you're a fan of the 1980 film as I am, you'll probably like--but not love--the musical version. It's a mindlessly entertaining way to spend a few hours, and the performances are great. The three main leads are terrific--Stephanie J. Block makes a perfect Judy, Megan Hilty is a fabulous Dolly Parton impersonator in her role as Doralee, and The West Wing's Allison Janney is delightful as Violet. Who cares if Janney's singing voice isn't much better than Lauren Bacall's? The lady knows how to act, and she's right at home on a Broadway stage. I loved her in the show. And Mark Kudisch, who plays their sleazy pig of a boss, is also very good. Unfortunately, despite all these talented actors, 9 to 5 is a mediocre musical. Dolly Parton's score is a major disappointment. The title tune, of course, is wonderful as is Block's eleven o'clock number, "Get Out and Stay Out", and a sweet duet, "Let Love Grow", between Violet and her potential boyfriend, Joe (Andy Karl, who has an impressive voice). The rest of the music is downright dull. Also, whoever decided to give the secondary character of Roz TWO numbers of her own made a big mistake. Nothing against the actress Kathy Fitzgerald, but there's far too much of the annoying Roz in the musical. Also Janney opens Act 2 with a big number called "One of the Boys", which reminded me an awful lot of "One of the Boys", Lauren Bacall's big number in the musical, Woman of the Year. Although 9 to 5 is a very slight show, it's still a lot of fun to watch most of the time--especially whenever Janney, Hilty and Block are on stage together. I'd recommend seeing the show just for them. And if you don't go in with high expectations, you'll probably have a good time. I give 9 to 5 a C+.




God of Carnage: Usually whenever my partner and I split up to see different shows in NYC, I'm the one who sees the better one. But this trip I sadly did not. I should've gone with him to see South Pacific--or anything else. Instead--based on all its rave reviews--I went to see the comedy hit of the Broadway season, God of Carnage, starring The Sopranos' James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels and two of my favorite actresses, Hope Davis and Marcia Gay Harden. I saw playwright Yasmina Reza's Art on Broadway years ago and enjoyed it. But her newest play is an overrated exercise in painful tedium that only deserves one Tony Award: Best Projectile Vomiting Since The Exorcist. I don't understand why critics and audiences have fallen in love with this show. Do they identify with these horrible characters who act worse than their own children over the course of 90 minutes? These people are misbehaving monsters whose despicable actions I rarely found very funny. And this is supposed to be a comedy? Give me a break. Go see Everyday Rapture or Blithe Spirit--or even 9 to 5--if you're looking to laugh. God of Carnage is one bitter, nasty pill of a play to swallow. And frankly after I sat through it, I felt like upchucking just like Hope Davis' character does. However, I do not fault any of the four actors in the show, who all give fine performances with the drek that they are given to work with. At times I was reminded of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (a far better play with characters that you actually care about) and the old Eunice and Mama sketch on The Carol Burnett Show (which did provide big laughs and only lasted about 10 minutes). The show is so contrived--especially when one couple keeps putting on their coats to leave, but they never do for one stupid reason after another. I did like one moment, in which Daniels crosses the room to supposedly comfort a sobbing Harden--but instead he walks by her to pick up a bottle of rum to drink. And after watching God of Carnage, I desperately needed a cocktail, too. So I went to Arriba Arriba! on 9th Avenue for a margarita and listened to groovy disco music and felt so much better. I give the show a D- (only its talented cast prevents me from handing out an F), and I hope to God it doesn't win a Tony for Best Play.

Dish of the Day #154

Every Monday through Friday a new Dish of the Day will be featured, and beginning on Friday you can vote for your favorite Dish of the week. If you haven't voted for last week's Dish yet, choose your man in the sidebar poll.

Groovy Gal: Cher

Cher has always and forever will be one of the grooviest gals around. The Academy Award-winning actress, who celebrates her 63rd birthday today, has done it all during her fascinating life and career--movies, television, music, Broadway--and she's still going strong with her own show in Las Vegas. You gotta love Cher, whom I predict will continue to entertain us for many years to come.

Here are 10 Groovy Facts about Cher:

1) She was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. Her father was an Armenian refugee, while her mother was of Cherokee, English and French descent.

2) She was an introverted young girl with an active imagination, but after watching Disney’s Dumbo at Hollywood’s Grauman’s Chinese Theater, she broke out of her shell and dreamed of becoming a singing and dancing animal.

3) Due to severe, undiagnosed dyslexia, a frustrated Cher quit high school at 16 (she was later diagnosed at age 30). While she was in high school, she had a brief relationship with actor Warren Beatty.

4) In 1962, a 16-year-old Cher met 27-year-old Salvatore "Sonny" Bono, who was an assistant to record producer Phil Spector and offered the runaway a spare bed in his apartment. He assured her that he "didn’t find her attractive in the slightest". They became fast friends and eventually lovers before marrying in Tijuana, Mexico, on October 27, 1964 (they divorced in 1975).

5) Following an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in the fall of 1965 in which Sullivan pronounced her name 'Chur' during their introduction, she began spelling her name with a (misleading) acute accent: Chér (in 1979 she legally changed her name to Cher, with no surname or middle name).

6) Sonny and Cher caught the eye of CBS head of programming Fred Silverman in 1971 while guest-hosting The Merv Griffin Show, and he offered the duo their own variety show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, which debuted on August 1, 1971, as a summer replacement series (it ran from 1971-74 and 1976-77).

7) She and Sonny performed together for the last time during their appearance on Late Night With David Letterman on November 13, 1987, in which they sang "I Got You, Babe".

8) Cher auditioned for the role of Bonnie Parker in 1967's Bonnie and Clyde, was offered the part of Thelma in 1991's Thelma & Louise, and wanted to play Morticia in 1991's The Addams Family. And her Oscar-winning role in 1987's Moonstruck was originally intended for Sally Field, who turned it down.

9) "Believe", the Grammy Award-winning title track from her 1998 album, made Cher the oldest woman (at age 52) to have a number one hit in the Hot 100 rock era. It also gave her the distinction of having the longest span of #1 hits (more than 33 years). She is also the only female artist to have solo Top 10 hits in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

10) Following her rocky relationship with Sonny and before her marriage to Gregg Allman in 1975, Cher turned down a romantic weekend in Las Vegas with Elvis Presley because she was too nervous about spending the night with The King. She still regrets turning him down as well as Marlon Brando, who also asked her out. However, she did have a passionate fling with a 23-year-old Tom Cruise when she was 39.